Subject (Ang) and Object (Ng) particles

In English, the subject is usually always the first noun or pronoun of a sentence.

E.g. The boy ate the apple.

——-(S) (V) (O)

As you can see, the boy is the subject while the apple is the object. In Tagalog, there is a different method to determine which word in the sentence is the subject or the object known as particles. For now, we’ll look at only two particles: ang and ng. These are the most common and important particles in a Tagalog sentence. There are many other particles but that will be discussed in later articles. Note that these particles are not the same as definite articles (the) or indefinite articles (a, an) like in English.

There are pronouns that are subject pronouns and object pronouns. Check back here to revise which pronouns are used as subjects and which are used as objects.

Ang (Subject)

This particle denotes the subject of the sentence. For pronouns, the subject pronouns are used.

E.g. Kumain ang bata ng mansanas (The child ate the apple.)

Iinom ako ng gatas (I will drink milk.)

Gusto ng babae ang pula (The woman likes the red (one).)

Nakita mo ang aso (You saw a dog.)

Ng (Object)

This particle denotes the object of the sentence. For pronouns, the object pronouns are used.